Sheet-feeding machine



May 19, 1925.

y 1,538,184 J. T. HALE f SHEET FEEDING MACHINE original Filed' Dec. 1e, 191s e sheets-sheet 1 ...m Q ,N www w Q l n *www SLW @WU MWwNTIIIIHIJWVllIHHUmOM :l HH( C J. T. HALE SHEET FEEDING MAGHINE Orig inal I led Dec. 16. 1918 Mayy 19, 1925.

MaylQ, 1925.

' J. T. HALE SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Original FileKd Dec. 16, 1918 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 m 4 4? 4. 1 pw fr o obl: *WZ L... a ,f fmg@ wi J ll Q@ VIL w -1 O N d L um %N. O Oo \N .QW O o m mm bw hm Sw May` 19, 1925 SHEET FEEDING MACHINE 6 `Shee1'.s-Sheet 4 Original Filed Dec:T 16, 1918 Mama-1,1925. l 1,538,184

l J. T. HALE 1 SHEET FEDING MACHINE l Original Filed Dec:` 15. 1918 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 19, 192.5.

J.' T. HALE SHEET FEEDING .MACHINE ariginal Filed Deo.. 1e. 1918 e sheets-snaai e Patented May 19, 1925.

' UNITED STATES] PATENT oFFlcE. .l

JACxsoN TIIToN ASSIGNMENTS,

VANIA, A CORPORATION T PENNSYLVANIA.

sHEET-EEEDING MACHINE.

Application led December 16, 1918, Serial No. 266,912. Renewed April 2, 1925.

.T0 all whom it may concern Beit .known ,that I, JACKSON TIPToN HALE, la citizen of the United States, resdin at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and tate of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Sheet-Feeding Machine, o f which the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to sheet-feeding devices in general, and ,relates especially to devices for feeding sheets from the position they occupy when separated to an operative' position for being printed in a printing press, particularly a flat-bed cylinder press.

An outstanding object of my invention is to enable an increased speed of. feeding to be obtained and wear of the parts to be minimized, in a feeding device of the reciproeating type, by reducing the length of the path through which the feed carriagemust travel in effecting the transfer of the sheets over the required distance. This is accomplished by providing a single reciprocating feed carriage having sheet-holding means I at both its front and rear ends, and causing l such carriage to move through substantially one half the distance which the sheets have l to traverse. The sheet-holding means at the rear of the carriage transfers the sheet from its separated position to an intermediate po'sition,.whle the sheet-holding means at the front of the carriage transfers the l-sheet from such intermediate position tothe forward position to .which the sheets are to be, fed. The carriage 'thus transfers two sheets'at a time, one by the front-sheet-hold;

ing means andthe other by the rear sheet-v holding means. It will be seen that by this construction it is only necessary for the carriage to cover a path substantially one half of the distance throughwhich the sheets have to be moved- It is another object of my invention to provide av sheet-feeding device'which. will permit of exceptionally easy access tothe press parts, enable the front or rear wing of the feed board to be raised, and allow entryto be had-attherear of ,the machine, with veryjlittle trouble.

It is a further object of my inventlon to provide a sheet-feedingidev1ce which will` b e an improvement on others heretofore de- .vised in simphcity of constructlon, ease of ings, and describedv in the following speciication, a sheet-feeding device embodying my invention. I wish it understood, however, that the invention may be embodied in other forms, and that changes may be made in the embodiment described and shown,

vwithont'exceeding the scopethereof, as defined in the appended claims. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan-0f a 'sheet-feeding device j constructed-'in accordance. with my invention; I Y L Fig 2 is a side elevation of the right-hand side ofthe machine; i

Fig. 3 is' a side elevation ofthe left-hand, or operators, side ofthe machine; i Fig. 4 is a section takenon the line Jr-f of'Fig. 1, the feed-carriage, however, being shown in its rearward position;

Figs. 5 and 6 are sections taken respectively onV the lines 5-'5 and 6-6 of Fig. 1; Fig; 7 is an enlarged detail view showing parts of the mechanism for raisingl and lowering of the feed carriage; I y

Fig. 8 is a'view showing certain of the vparts of said mechanism in a dierent position 'the suction feet at the front end HATE-0E ATLANTA, GEORGIA, AssIGNoE,l BY DIRECT AND MEsNE f To MI'LLEE SAW-TRIMMEE COMPANY, or PITTSBURGH, PENNsYL- Fig. 9 is a plan of part of the mechanism 'l for raising and lowering the .suction feet;

' Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate the manner of operation of the mechanism for raising and 'lowering the suction feet;..

'Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the feeding` device, showingthe adjustment of the lat- Vter to permit raising 4ofthe front wing of l the vfeed 4board f Fi .'13 is a view similar to Fig. 12,l but showmg the manner of adjusting the feeding device -to permit ralsing of. the rear wing of the feed board, and to allow entry 'to b e had at the rear of the printing press;

and

Fig. lll'is a detail side view of one of the mechanical grippers with -which the feed carriage is provided.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the following specification and several gurcs of the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, in which a complete feeding machine, inclusive of table elevating mechanism, sheet separating mechanism, etc., is broadly indicated, a main frame is provided at the rear of the press, and separated therefrom a sufficient dis*- tance to permit entry of an operator between said main frameand the press. The main -franie comprises a pair of standards' 20, connected in a. suitable manner by tierods, and secured to the floor by lag screws or the like. ,ln this main frame, between the standards 20, is disposed the stock table 21, the latter being provided with mechalnism for automatically elevating it as the stock pile becomes depleted by the feeding away of the sheets.

in the particular machine shown broadly in the drawings` the separation is effected by combing devices. To support the 'forwardly-extending parts of the combed-fon ward top sheets of the pile` spaced support lingers 22 are provided: 'These are secured, so as to be adjustable lengthwise thereon, to a transverse shaft 23, which extends between the standards 2O and is mounted in brackets 24 extending forwardly therefrom. The shaft 23 is provided, at the left-hand side of the machine, with a hand-lever 25, A retaining pin is provided which can pass through the hand-lever and enter the adjacent bracket 24, thereby maintaining the support lingers 22 in a forwardly extended position (Fig. 12). lVhen the pin iswithdrawn, the support fingers 22 can drop into 'a substantially vertical position (Fig. 13).

The upper parts of the main frame standards 2O are disposed substantially parallel with the plane of the feed board of the press and are formed with guideways for receiving the side members 26 of the rear section of the feeder frame. To constitute the said rear section, the said side members are connected together by several tie members, among them a cam shaft 27, fixed shaft 28, and comber drive shaft 29. A central support member 30, through which said shafts pass, is provided substantially half way between the said side members. The rear part of each side member 26 is formed with rack teeth 31 at its upper edge. With these rack teeth (Figs. 1 and 13) engage pinions 32 carriedby a shaft 33 which extends across the main frame between the standards 20. By rotating the shaft 33 in one direction or the other, the side members 26, and therefore the whole rear section of the feeder frame, can be moved towards or away from the press, sliding in the guideways of the standards 20. Y

The front section of the feeder frame comprises side members 34 supported in suitable section of the feeder frame can be moved.

forward or backward with respect .to the press, and can be secured in any desired position of adjustment by means of cap screws 37 passing through the brackets 35 and engaging against theside members.

The side members 34- of the front section of the feeder frame form continuations of the side members 26 of the rear section, and during the normal running of the machine, are connected with them. The connection is effected by neaus -of connecting hooks 33 pivoted to the side members 26 of the rear section, which hooks` are adapted to engage with pins 39 ecccntrically mounted upon small hand levers 4l) pivote'd to the side members 34 of the front seetion.- A doweled connection is provided between the front side member 34 and the rear side members 26, to aid in maintaining perfect alignment between these members.

The cani shaft 27, carried by the rear section of the feeder frame, receives its motion, through a telescoping shaft 41 and suitable lgearing (Fig. 2), from one of the shafts of the printing press. A suitable clutch is provided between the cam shaft 27 and telescoping shaft 41, so that the motion of the feeder less of the continued operation of the print ing press. The cam shaft 27 is provided with a crank 42, having connected thereto the rear end of a rack 43, the front end of the latter being supported by rollers mounted in a hanger 44 secured to the side member 34 of the front feeder frame sect-ion. The rack 43 engages a pinion 45 carried by the outer end of the carriage drive shaft 36. It will be seen that as the cam shaft 27 and crank 42 rotates a reciprocating motion will be imparted to the rack 43 and that vthis reciprocating motion of the rack will result in a to and fro rocking movement of the carriage drive shaft 36. To permit the front and rear sections of the feeder frame to be separated, the rack 43 may be disconnected from the crank 42 and supported in any desired manner, as, for instance, by the pin and chain arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2.

Cooperating with the shaft 36 is a feed carriage which is provided with mechanical grippers at its rear end and suction feet at its front end. The mechanical grippers at the rear end of the feed carriage seize the sheet in its separated position and carry it forward. to an intermediate station substantially half way down the press feed board.

The suction feet at the front end of the feed parts may be arrested at will, regard.

carriage pick up the at its intermediate station and carry it down-to the press guides.

- In the'machine illustrated in the drawings,

the position of the separated sheet is controlled by feeler fingers 46 cooperating with combers 47. The se arated sheet lies withV The feed carriage consists o-f a pair of racks 48 connected by a front cross, bar 49 fand a. rear cross bar 50. Flanged wheelsi 51 are carried by the racks, and run upon tracks secured to the feed board 53 of the press. The tracks are divided into front sections 52 secured to the front wing 53a, of the feed board, middle sections 52b secured to the' middle portion 53? of the feed board, and 'rear sections 52c secured to `the rear wing 53c of the feed board. The' track sections are beveled at their adjacent ends, as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, so as to permit the wings of the feed board to be swung up as indicated in said figures; and for the same reason the vmate-rial of the front feedboard wing 53a is cut away beneath the front ends of the middle track sections 52", and the material of the rear feed-board wing 53c is' cut` away` beneath the rear ends of the said middle track sections.

The reciprocation of the feed carriage is effected by means of pinions 54, which are secured to the carriage drive' shaft 36 so as to mesh with the racks 48 (Figs. 1, 3 and 6). The' to and fro, rocking movement of the carriage drive shaft 36, referred to above, through the pinions 54 and racks 48, effects a to and fro reciprocation of the feed carriage. l

ATwo sets of mechanical grippers 55 are provided Aat the rear end of the feed carriage. These are identical, one oneach side of the machi ne,'and a description of one set will therefore suffice. Referring to the mechanical'grippe-rs on the right-hand side of the machine (Figs. 1, 5, Gand 14), each gripper 55 includes an upper jaw-member 55a secured to a rock-shaft'56. Thelatter has its bearing at one end inthe right-hand rack 48, and at the other end in a hanger'57 extending downward from the rear cross bar 50 of the feed carriage. Mounted in a recess 55b .of the upper jaw-member 55.11 (Fig. 14.), and pivoted to the .jaw-member at 55, is a lower jaw-member 55d having a jaw 55e. The shape and disposition of the arts is such that when the lower jaw-memer 55d is rocked so as to Irrove its jaw 55e forwardly, such jaw will disappear into the recess 55b of the upper jaw-member 55a,

V.whereas when the lower jaw-member 55d is' rocked so as to move its jaw 55e rearwardly,

such jawwill emerge from the recess 55b and clamp against the lower face ofthe front of the upper jaw-member 55". The. 1

lowerv jaw-member 55d `has vpivoted thereto, at a point above its pivot 55, the lower end of a'link 55f, the upper end of such link being loosely mounted upon a rod 58 extending lengthwiseof the'rear cross bar 50, at the rear of the latter. A leaf spring'55g is secured to theupper jaw-member 55, and rovided at its rear end .with a roller which' engages a suitably shaped cam surface formed on thev upper partof the lower jawmember 55d in such manner that the springpressed roller will maintain the lower jaw.- ymember 55d in its open or closed position, to

whichever of .these positions it may have been moved. A set screw secures the upper j awimember 55*1 to the rock-shaft 56, where-` by thel gripper 55 may be adjusted lengthwise of the rock-shaft, and secured in its adjusted position. When such .adjustment is made, all of the parts of the gripper 55 move together, the link 55t sliding lengthwise on the rod 58. Four of these grippers 55, two; on each side off the machine, are shown in the'drawings.

To effect the-closing of the grippers 55 upon the separated sheet, adjustable rear stops 59 are provided, one at each side of the feed-board, near the rear end of the rear wing 53. As the feed frame reaches its rearmost position, the rear stops 59 are engaged by depending arms 60, one of which is carried by each of the rock-shafts 56. By the engagement of the arms 60 with the rear stops 59,.,the shafts 56 are rocked ina clockwise direction. Theeifect is that the upper jaw-member 55, which had been previously raised, are caused to swing down upon the top of theseparated sheet at the front edge of the latter. Owing to the link connections between the lower jawmembers 55d and the rods 58, the jaws 55e of the lower jaw-members are caused, by this downward movement of the upper jaw-members 55, to swing up beneath the separated sheet and clamp it, near the lfront edge, against the bottom Yfaces ofI the upper jaw-members 55a. After the sheet has thus been seized by the grippers l55, the feed carriage makesitsOrward movement, the grippers carrying with Athem the separated sheet, and bringing it to an intermediate point approximately half Way lbetween the feeler fingers 46 and the press guides. During this forward move,- mentof the carriage, lthe lowenjaW-menr' bers'55d are maintained in their closed. condition bythe locking action of the rollers carried by the leaf springs 55g.

To open the grippers 55, adjustable front stops'61 (Figs. 1 and 6) are provided, one

at each side of the feed board, near the rear end of the frontiwing .53, in position to engage the depending arms 60 on the rock'- shafts 56,. When the arms 60 strike the adinstable tront stops (il, the shafts 56 are rocked in a contra-clockwise direction, and the upper 'Iiaw-members 55 are thereby raised. ily the action ot the linhs Bof upon the lower liaw-membcrs 55d, the jaws 55C ot the latter art caused to swing forward into the recesses 5o" ot the upper jaw-members 5.?. in this .manner the sheet is released trom the' mechanical grippers 55 at the intermediate point above re'l'erred to. i

The sheet; is thusbrought forward to an intern'iediate position on theY lecd board 523, from which position, at the next cycle ot the machine, it is to be ted t'orward, by the suction lieet at the trout of the tecd carriage,`to the press guides. 'lo retain the sheet in this intermediate position, ready tor its turther movement at the next reciprocation ot the teed carriage, a pair ot retaining weights (i2 are provided. These weights are adapted to be deposited on the sheet when the latter has reached the intermediate position` and to be raised troni the sheet when the latter again `to be moved forward. 'lhe weights (SQ (Figs. l and are mounted upon a weight leve'r ti pivoted at tSflto, and evtending l'orwardly trom, the central support member Slt) ot the rear section ot the t'eeder' trame. The rear arm G3 et the weicht lever (5i-3 is provided with a Cam roller ta which rides` upon a cani (Sti mounted on the cam shatt 2T, 'lhe cam titl is so shaped as toc-anse the retaining weiehts 62 to descend upon the sheet: as soon as the latter has reached the intermediate posi.- tion, and to rise from the sheet just be'tore the latter'is to be moved Forward from said intermediate position by the suction lect.

Two sets ot suction lcet (it) are provided at the front ot the 'lced carriage. one set. at each side ot the machine. Both sets are similarly constructed and mounted, and are actuated alike, and a description ot one set will therefore sutiice. .t pipe (ST is rockably mounted in hangers (3S carried by the front cross bar AEtf) ot the Ytecd carriage. One end of the pipe is adjacent one ot' the racks -t-S, and the other end is near the centcrot the 'feed board. 'The outer end ot the pipe is closed, and the inner end connected to the pump cylinder, hereinafter to be described. The pipe is formed with a series ot holes along its front tace, with-certain ot which holes the suction feet register, depending upon the adjustment ot' the feet on the pipe. The holes not in use are plugged. A plurality of the suction icet GS) are mounted on kthe pipe 6T, two being shown in the drawings (Figs. l. and 5). They are provided with air passages, open at the outer lower ends of the toet and registering at the inner ends with the particular holes ot the pipe G7 which may be in use. The suction feet are adjustable lengthwise ot the pipe G7, and are provided with set screws at their rear sides. These set screws secure the feet in their adjusted position, and also draw the tront parts ot the feet' into firm engagement with the pipe GT, thus providing an airtight connection between the pipe and the suction feet. The suction feet are provided, on their tops, with air-regulating valves 70.

At its end adjacent the rack L1S, the pipe G7 has secured thereto a cani arm 7l which extends torwardly therefrom and is adapted to be pressed downward, at one stage in the operation ot the machine, by a cam 72 (Figs. l and 7) mounted on the carriage drive-shat`t S6, thereby to cause the suction lcet G9 to be moved'downward towards the table. The elevating movement ot the suetion jt'eetfrom the table is eltect'ed by means ot a spring Tl secured between one o'l the hangers (5&5 and a collar adjustably mounted on the pipe (3T.

lioosely mounted on the pipe (ST, the cam arm T1. is a tlat' cam lever I tween which and the cam arln Tl is interposed a latch plate T5 (Figs. l and T-ll). 'lhc latch plate To is l'ormcd with elongated slots through which pass the pipe (3T and guide pins To extcmling trom the tace of the liat cam-lever 7l. Ylhc body parts ol' the tlat cam-lever Tl and the latch plate T5 are in general similarly shaped, and the outer parts ol their 'l'rontends are curve-il upon an arc concentric with the pipe, m

close to vil, be-

ot. 'lhe lower part ot the trout edge ot the latch plate is cut away so as to torni a shoulder 7T, against which, under certain cirtaunstances, can engage a latch pin 'TS extending laterally 'lroni the cam arm Tl. A coil spring Tf) is connected between thc t'lat Cam lever TJland the latch plate Tf, and tends to cause the latch plate 'T5 to slide forwardly with respect to the cam lever T4, the slot and pin arrangement permitting such slittingl movement. A lront stop pin SO extend ing inwardly l'rom the rack 4S limits the downward movement oty the, forward ends` ot the llat cam lever 74. and latch plate T5; and a rear stop pin Sl, also extending inwardly trom the rack 48, limits t-he upward movement oi the. said torward ends.

A bevelled cam plate, 82 is mounted on the feed board near the trout; end ot' the tront. wing 53 thereot', in such a position as to be engaged by a cam roll TAU carried by a tail-piece 74 mounted on the fiat cam lever 74e (Fig. itl). The tail-piece 74 is made movable about a pivot pin, to permit adjustment ot the height ot the bc-tztom l'aces ol the suction feet. (it) with respect to the feed board at the moment ot placing the sheet at the press guides. An adjustable stop S3 is placed on the feed board close beside the cam plate S2 and somewhat beyond the same (Fig. 10) in a position to be engaged by a hook 75a extending downward and rearward trom the latch plate 75.

^ Somewhat like that indicated in Fig. 8, ex-

As the feed carriage makes its rearward movement, the suction feet v69 will be in a raised position, owing to the action of the spring 78. `The position of the cam arm 71 withrespectto the latch plate 75 will be cept "that the front edge of the latch' plate 75 'willjbe'being pulled against the latch pin 7 8 lby the spring 79. The suction feet will therefore pass above the sheet which has just been placed against the press guides, without disturbingthe latter. When the feed carriage reaches its rea-rmost position, the-suctiom feet 69 will be above the sheet which, on the previous forward movement of the feed carriage, was fed to the intermediate position by `the mechanical grippers at the rear of the feed carriage. At this `time the carriage drive'shaft 36 will be just concluding its rocking movement in a contra-clockwise direction, and the cam 72 will descend upon the cam arm 71 and depress the latter. During the 4first part of the descent of the cam arm 71, its latch pin 78 will ride upon the curved front edge' ofthelatch plate 75. YVhen, however, the

latch "pin 78 has descended far'enough, vthe latch'plate 75 will snap forward under the action of the coil spring 7 9, its shoulder 77 passingl above,l the latch pin. The cam arm 71 will movefurther down, enough to cause Ithe-suction feet 69 to engage the topI of the sheet beneath them.

The downward move-` ment of thefiat cam lever 74 and thelatch plate will be limited by the fr'nt stop pin 80. At thistime, suction is applied, so

fthatcthe sheet will adhere to the suction feet. f "Asv the feed carriage `starts its forward f the fiat cam lever movement, the cam- 72 will start to rotate in a clockwise direction, and the cam arm 71 will be gradually released from the downsuction feet are permitted to rise a trifle, underthe action of the springs 7 3 on the pipe 67 When the suction feet have. risen this slight distance, further rocking of the pipe 67 is prevented by the engagement of 74 and latch plate 75 with the rear stop pin 81, and by the engagement ofthe latch pin 78 against the shoulder 77 of the latch plate 75. Thus, during posited tion feet reach their extreme forward tion. The piston rod 87 is connected,

sequent depressing of the suction feet. Im-

mediately after this', suction is released from the suction feet, whereby the sheet isy deon the feed board adjacent the press guides, and the suction feet are raised so as to be in a position to clear the sheet during the rearward mov-ement of the feed carriage. This raising of the suction feet 69 results yfrom the engagement of the -hook .75 of the plate 75' with .the adjustable stop 83 latch cig.- 10). plate forward movement with the feed carriage; The effect is that of a rearward movement of the latch plate 75 with respect to the cam arm 71, whereby the shoulder 77 of the latch plate is released' from its engagement above the latch p-in 7 8 of the cam arm (Fig. 8). Such. release ofthe cam arm' 71 enables the pipe 67 to be rocked upward by the action of the spring 73', thereby elevating the suction feet, ready for the return movement of the feed carriage.

For applying suction to the pipes 6-7 and Such engagement stops the latch the suction feet 69 carried thereby, an elon- 7 5 while the cam arm 71 finishes its gated pump cylinder 84, disposed longitudinally and centrally of the feed carriage, is

provided. It is secured to the cross members 49 and 501, beneath them, and communicates, at its front end, with the pipes 67 by means of connections which may be of any 'desired kind, provided that they p ermit ofv he above-described rocking movement of the pipes. In the pump cylinder 84 slides a suitable piston 86 carried bya piston rod 87, an air relief valve 84a being provi cylinder, in such a uncovered by osition that it will be thepiston 86 when the suca detachable link 88, to the long arm of abellcrank lever 89 (Figs. 1 and 4) which is pivoted vat 90 to the central supportf member 30 of the rear section of the feeder frame.

The `bell-crank lever 89 is provided with a cam roll 91 which rides upon a cam 92 secured to the cam shaft 27. A spring 93 is connected between thevbell-crank lever- 89 ouy ' the press guides.-V

the suctionfeet 69 are maintained in a poj sition -infwhich their front ends are slightly elevatedffabove the feed board, thereby preventin .sheet from rubbing too closely upon .t e'feed board as it is carried towards In order'thatl the sheet may delivered g accurately tothe pressguides and close to the ifeed board, the suction feet 69 are depressed again just -prior to the end of their forward movement. .This is accomplished by the engagement of the cam roll 74' with the cam plate 82.- Such engagementv movement ofthe pump cylinder 84 with respect tothe piston 86;' but as the forward ded adjacent the rear end of the pump '105 movement of the feed .carriage will at first be relatively slow, owing to the crank motion. of the driving device, the application of suction is helped, at first, by inclining the face of the cam 92 so as to permit some further rearward movement of the piston as the feed carriage begins its forward movement. The carriageI will be moving at its highest speed when approximately half way through its travel; and, as the suction might be too great at that period, the ca .m 92 is shapedv so as to start to move the p1ston forward when the carriage is nearthe center of its travel, thereby diminishing the suction'effect. Then the sheet has been carried by the suction feet to the required position, the piston 86' passes the air-relief valve 843, and suction is thereby released from the pump cylinder 84 and air per-- mitted to enter. In this way the sheet is released by the' suction feet at the4 end of the forward'movement of the latter, and de# posited on the feed board. Because of the crank movement of the feed-carriage driving device, and the action of the cam 92,

the suction is diminished toward the end of the forward movement of the suction feet, and an especially smooth and easy sheet release obtained.

iVith the machine just starting up, there will be no sheets on the feed board, and therefore no sheet will be present at the interinediate position to be acted upon by the suctionfeet 69 on the first forward movement of the feed carriage. At such first forward movement, however, the mechanical grippers 55 will transfer a sheet from its 'separated position on the support fingers 22 to the intermediate position on the feed board, inwhich intermediate position/ the sheet will' be temporarily secured by the retaining weights 62 descending upon it, Upon the feed carriage returning to its rearmost position after the first reciprocation, the suction feet 69 will seize the sheet thus brought tothe intermediate position, the retaining weights 62 rising to release such sheet. At the same time the grippers 55 will seize a second sheet, which will have arrived in the proper position upon the support fingers 22. As the feed carriage moves forward. the first sheet and the second sheet will be carried forward, by the suction feet 69 and the grippers 55 respectively. The first sheet will be carried to the press guides and the second sheet to the. intermediate position previously occupied by the first sheet. Thereafter, at each recil'irocation, the lfeed carriage will feed forward two sheets, one sheet being fed by the suction feet G9 from the intermediate position to the press guides, and the other sheet being fed by the grippers 55 from the separated position on the support fingers 22 to the intermediate position.

lt will be seen from the above that whilel a sheet is delivered to the press guides at each reciprocation of the feed carriage the feed carriage only moves through a distance substantially one half of the distance between the support fingers 22 and the press guides. This diminution of the distance which the feed carriage must travel permits an increased feeding speed to be maintained, and gives many other beneficial results such as the reduction of wear of the parts, etc.

Since it is ordinarily desirable that room shall be. left for an operator to enter at the rear of the press, as for instance, when it is desired to inserta form, 'the stock pile of an automatic feeder is usually placed at a certain distance from the rear end of the the press feed board. Thus the distance through which a reciprocating feed device would have to carry the sheet, in-order to deliver it to tbe press guides, will often be greater even than the length of the feed board. It would be diiiicult t0 provide an ordinary mechanical movement for reciprocating a feed device to and fro over the entire distance to be covered by the sheets, which would efficiently and safely operate at the high speeds now demanded in machines of this character. This difficulty, however, is completely overcome by the feeding device according to the present inv vention, wherein the feed -arriage has only to travel substantially oneshalf of the distancetlnough which-,the sheets are to be fed. In machines of this character ease of access to the press partsvis exceedingly important, and the feeding device of my invention provides for this in a highly advantageous manner. If it is desired to raise the front wing 532* of the feed board, it is only necessary to turnthe machine until the feed carriage is near its extreme whereupon the front wing can be swung upward about its hinge as though no feed mechanism were present (Fig. 12). If it is desired to raise the rear wlng 53c of the feed board, the small hand levers 40 are actuated to release the hooks 38 which conf nect the front and rear sections of the feedy frame. Then the shaft 33v is rotated. where upon, through its pinions 32 and the rack teeth 31 on the side members 26 of the rear section of the feeder frame, the said rea-r section is moved rearwardly, sliding lin the guidewavs of the standards 20 of the main frame. lith the feed carriage in' its forward position, the rear wing 53C of the feed board can then be swung upward about its hinge (Fig. i3). By reason of the bevelled arrangement of the ends of the sections of the tracks 52, and the cutting away 0f the feed board wings, the tracks will not'in any way interfere with the swinging of the feed board wings. vAt the same time, the

rear position,

i sections 52, 52b and 52' will form a contin- Sometimes slippage of the printing press.

occursI To adjust for this, the cap screws 37, which clamp the side members'34 of the front section of the feeder frame, may be released and the two sections of the feeder frame moved together, in' one direction or V the other, by Vmanipulating the shaft 33.

. of said wings.

Having thus fully described my invention' what'I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a paper feeding mechanism, a press feed board divided transversely into l,front `and back wings,V a reciprocating carriage mounted on said pressV feed board, means to actuate said carriage mounted on the frame of the machine above the carriage,

and means to separate said carriage actuating mechanism to permit the tilting of one 2. A paper` feeding mechanism, for use in connection with a printing or other ma-l Mchine, having a sheet advancing carriage llfl adapted to be moved upon a feed board of such machine, and sheet moving members on said carriage and separated in the direction of movement thereof, combined with means for gradually advancing such carriage with an accelerating motion and grad ually retarding its motion as it nears its forward limit..V

3. In a paper Afeeding mechanism, a reclprocatlng carriage, a sheet moving mem ber mounted on the front end of said carriage, and a. sheet .gripping mechanism mounted upon the back end of the carriage and adapted to carry a sheet at a time from a pile of sheets to a press feed board, said sheet gripping mechanism havinggripper elements and two rock shafts supported by hangers at their ends, lever arms extending downward, and'stops at opposite ends of the travel of the carriage with which s said lever arms engage and adapted to operate the grippers at the limit of the back ward stroke, so as to close them onto a sheet and carry the sheet forward on the forward motion of the carriage and drop it onto the press feed board and rise clear of said sheet. I

4. In a paper feeding mechanism, a reciprocating carriage, a sheet moving member mounted on the front end of said carriage, a pair ofrock shafts mounted in the rear portion-of said'carriage, gripper elements adjustably secured to the rock shafts, and means to actuate said gripper elements to engage a sheet when the carriage is at its backward limit.

5. In a paper feeding mechanism, a reciprocating carriage, a pair of alined rock shafts mounted on the rear portion of said carriage, top gripper'membe'rs fast to the rock shafts, bottom gripper members pivotally mounted on the top gripper members, lever arms fast to the' rock shafts, adjustable stops at the rearward and forward limits of travel of the carriage adapted to be engaged by 4said lever arms to rock the shafts, and connecting links eccentrically connecting the lower gripper members with a stationary portion so that asthe shafts are rocked the Vupper Vgripper members will descend upon the top of the sheet to 'be fed and the lower gripper members' will rise to engage the bottom of the sheet simultaneously.

6. In a paper'feeding mechanism, a reciprocating carriage, a pair of alined rock shafts mounted on the rear portion of said carriage, top vgripper members fast to the rock shafts, 'bottom gripper members pivotally mounted on the top gripper members, lever arms fast to the rock shafts, stops at the rearward and forward limits of travel of the' carriage adapted to be engaged by said lever arms to rock the shafts, and connecting links eccentrically A'connecting the lower gripper members with a stationary portion so that'as the shafts are rocked the upper gripper-members will descend upon the top of the sheet to be fed and the lower gripper members will rise'to engage the bottom of the sheet simultaneously,

the said lower gripper members having camshaped heads, and springs contacting with said cam-shaped heads to hold the gripper members in different positions.

7. In a paper feeding mechanism, a reciprocating carriage, a pairv of alined rock shafts mounted on the rear portion o'f said carriage, top grippermembers fast to the rock-shafts, lower gripper members pivotally mounted on the top gripper members,A lever arms fastto the rock shafts, stops at the-rearward and forward limits of travel of the carriage adapted to be engaged by said lever arms to rock the shafts, and connecting links eccentrically connecting 'the' lower gripper members `with a stationary portion-of the carriage' so that as the shafts are rocked the top gripper members will descend upon the top 'of the sheetto be fed and the lower gripper members will rise to en` 8. In a paper feeding mechanism, a reciprocating carriage, a pair of alined rock shafts mounted on the rear portionv of said carriage, top gripper members fast to the rock shafts, bottom gripper members pivotally mounted on the top gripper members, lever arms fast to the rock shafts, stops at the 1.'earward and forward limits of travel of the carriage adapted to be engaged by said lever arms to rock the sha-fts. and connecting links eccentrically connecting the lower gripper members with a stationary portion of the rarriage so that as the shafts are rocked the top gripper members will descend upon the top of the sheet. to be fed and the lower gripper members will rise to engage the bottom of the sheet simultaneously, the said lower gripper members having cam-shaped heads and springs contacting with said cam-shaped heads to hold the gripper members in differ- .ent positions, the stops at the limit of. the

forward motion of the carriage serving to trip the downwardly extending arms and thereby open and lift the gripper members and the springs taking a new position on the cam heads of the lower gripper members and serving to hold the grippers inl elevated po.- sition out of contact with the sheet.'

9. In a paper feeding mechanism. a reciprocating carriage; a cam shaft, and a for wardly projecting weighted arm operatively connected with said shaft, Grippers on the rear of the carriage and suction pickers at the front of the carriage, the .combination being such that the weighted arm is' lowered on the sheet as it is reldased bythe grippers and raised as the sheet. is taken by the suction pickers.

10. A paper feedingmechanism, having a sheet advancing carriage and means to impart thereto agradually accelerated advance motion and a gradually retarded motion as thel carriage nears the limit of itsadvance, combined with an air suction pump, hollow rock-shafts connected with the' pump, pneumatic pickers mounted upon said shafts and having feet adapted to hold a sheet when under vacuum, and a bell-crank lever connected with the pump piston and means to actuate it.

11.- In a paper feeding mechanism, a carriage for conveying the paper sheets one at a time from a p ile of sheets to the machine to be fed, side Iframe plates, a cam shaft mounted on said plates, a cam on said shaft, an airpump having its cylinder mounted upon the carriage and its piston rod independently supported, a bellcrank lever having one arm cooperative with said cam and the other connected with the air pump piston rod, and a spring applied to the bell-crank lever, Iand pneumatic pickers supplied by said air pump, the combination and arrangement beingsuch that as the bell-crank lever drops off the high point of the cam the riprocating spring will be released and act upon said bell-crank lever thereby actuating the air pump and supplying force for.l lifting the sheet and supporting it until the carriage reaches its advanced position.

12. ln a paper feeding mechanism, a recarriage, alined rock-shafts mounted transversely in the leading end of said carriage, pneumatic pickers mounted upon said rock-shafts, and means to supply air to said pickers, combined with means to rock said shafts to lower the pickers on the leading edge of a sheet when the carriagev is in its rearmost position, means to again lower the pickers slightly so as properly to deliver the sheet t0 the machine to bc fed, and automatic means to rock the shafts reverscly, when the carriage reaches its delivery position to thereby raise the pickers'.

13. In a paper feeding mechanism, a reciprocating carriage, alined rock-.shafts .mounted transversely in the leading end of `said carriage, pneumatm pickers mounted upon said rock-shafts, and means to supply air to said pickers, combined with a carriage moving shaft, a cam thereon, means interposed between said cam and rock-shafts to anse said rock-shafts to lower the pickers to engage the front edge of a sheet to be fed, when the arriage is in its starting position, a longitudinally movable lever arm on the rock-shaft and interengaging members on said picker lowering means and said lever arm to effect. the lifting of the pickers, and a roller lever mounted loosely on the rockshaft and a stationary ram with which it cooperates to cause the rock-shafts to rock slightly and lower the pickers totake the sheet under tongues on press guides.

14s- In a paper feeding machine, in combination with sheet Vadvancing mechanism in stationary side frames, Ways to receive the aftermentioned slidable side plates, combined with said slidable plates having toothed racks, pinions engaging said racks, and a rotary shaft mounted in said' stationary side frames and on which the pinions are fixed.

15. In a paper feeding machine, in combination with sheet advancing mechanism in side frames ways arranged longitudinally therein, combined with plates, slidable in ways,side plates, and means Lto attach them to and detach them from the sliding plates to facilitate division of the machine.

16. In a paper feeding machine in connection with sheet advancing mechanism, side frames and vertical between which a sheet advancing carriage is operated combined with frame plates slidable in said frames, side frame plates, brackets to receive and support said side frame plates, ways in said bracketsto accommodate sliding of said side frame plates and means of makingr said side frame plates supports therefor,

1,5es,is4

` frame plates first mentioned and ysaid side frame plates last mentioned.

17. In a paper feeding machine in combination with sheet advancing mechanism,

'frame plates slidable in frames side frame plates, and means to attach them to and\detach them from the sliding frame plates to facilitate division of the machine.

18. The combination with a printing press of mechanism for feeding sheets from a predetermined station to said press, said mechanism comprising a sheet-seizing'device reciprocable between said station and an intermediate position substantially half way between said station and the press, a second sheet-seiz.` .g device reeiprocable ,between said intermediate position and the press, means for reciprocating said devices` together, and meanst for actuating said devices to cause them to seize and release sheets.

' 19. The combination with a` printing press of mechanism for feeding sheets from. a predetermined station to said press, said mechanism comprising a carriage, means for re ciprocating said carriage between said station and the press, a sheet-seizing device mounted on said carriage, a second sheetseizing device mounted on said carriage and separated from the first by a distance substantially equal to half that between said station and the press, and means for actuatf ing said sheet-seizing devices to seize and release sheets.

20. The combination with a printing press of mechanism for feeding sheets from a predetermined station to said press, said mechanism comprising a sheet-seizing device reciprocable between said station and an intermediate position substantially half way between said station and the press, a second sheet-seizing device reeiprocable between said intermediate position and the press, means for reciprocating said devices together, means for actuating said devices to cause them to seize and release sheets, and means for raising said devices during their movements in a direction towards said station.

21. The combination with a printing press of mechanism for feeding sheets from a predetermined station to said press, said mechanism comprising a carriage, means for reciprocating said carriage between said station and the press, a sheet-seizing device mounted on said carriage, a second sheetseizing device mounted on said carriage and separated from the first by a distance'substantially equal to half that between said station and the press, means for actuating said sheet-seizing devices to seize and release isheets and means for raising one of said sheet-seizing devices during the movement of said carriage from said press Atowards said station.

22. The combination with a printing press of lmechanism for feeding sheets from a predetermined station to said press, said mechanism comprising a sheet-seizing device i'eciprocable between said station and an yintermediate position substantially half way'between said station and the press, a second sheet-seizing device reciprocable between said intermediate position and the press, means for reciprocating said devices together, means for actuating said devices to cause them to seize and release sheets and means for retaining sheets in said intermediate position between their release by said first-named device and their seizing by said second named device.

23. The combination with a printing press of mechanism for feeding sheets from a predetermined station to said press, said `mechanism comprising a carriage, means for Y' said devices and their seizing by the other.

24. The combination with a printing ress having a feed board associated therewith, of means for feeding sheets to said press comprising a carriage, a sheet-seizing device mounted on said carriage toward the front thereof, a second sheet-seizing4 device mounted on said carriage toward the rear thereof, saiddevices being separated by a distance substantially one half of that to be traversed by the sheet in being fed to the press, means for reciprocating said carriage over said feed board, and means for actuating said devices to seize and release sheets. 25. The combination with a printing press having a feed board associated therewith, of means for feeding sheets to said press comprising a carriage, a sheet-seizing device mounted onsaid carriage toward the frontthereof, a second Isheet-seizing device mounted on said carriage toward the rear thereof, said devices being separated by a distance substantially one half of that to be traversed' by the sheet in being fed to the press, means for reciprocating said carriage over said feed board, means for actuatin said devices to seize and release sheets, an means for retaining sheets imposition on said feed board between beingreleased by one of said devices and being seized by the comprising guiding means associated with said feed board, a carriage cooperating with i said guiding means to reciprocate over said feed board, a sheet seizing device associated with said carriage toward the front thereof,

. a second sheet-seizing device associated with said carriage toward the rear thereof, said devices being separated by a distance substantially one half of that to be traversed by the sheet in being fed to the press, and means for actuating said devices to seize and release sheets.

27. The combination with a printing press having a feed board associated therewith, of means for feeding sheets to said press comprising guiding means associated with Said feed board, a carriage cooperating with said guiding means to reciprocate over said feed board, a sheet seizing device associated with said carriage toward the front thereof, a second sheet-seizin device associated with said carriage towar the rear thereof, said devices being separated by a distance substantially one hal-f ofthat to be traversed by the sheet in being fed to the press, means for actuating said devices to seizeand release sheets, and means for retaining sheets in position on said feed board between being released by one of said devices and beingseized by the other.

28. The combination with a printing press having a feed board associated therewith, of means for feedingsheets to said press comprising tracks associated with said feed board, a carriage rolling on said tracks, a

sheet-seizing device mounted on said carriage toward the front thereof, a second sheetseizing device mounted on said carriage toward the rear thereof, said devices being separated by a distance substantially one half of that to be ytraversed by the sheet in being fed to the press, means for reciprocating said carriage on said tracks, and means for actuating said devices to seize and release sheets'.

29. The combination with a printing press having a feed. board associated therewith, of means for feeding sheets to said press comprising tracks associated with said feed board, a carriage rolling on said tracks, a sheet-seizing device mounted on said carriage toward the front thereof, a second sheet-seizing device mounted on said carriage toward the rear thereof, said devices being separated by a distance substantially one half of that to -be-y traversed by the sheet in being fed tothe press, means for reciprocating said carriage on said tracks, means for actuating said devices to seize and release sheets, and means for 'retaining sheets in position on said feed board between being released by one of said devices and being seized by the other.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set `my hand, this 12th day of December, A. D., 1918.

' JACKSON TIPToN HALE.

Witnesses:

FRANK L. NEUFOVILLE, NELL CAMPBELL C-Loivnn. 

